Jackson is tough for 49ers to bear

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, October 9, 2008

Photo: Tom Mihalek, AP

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson runs back a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek) less

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson runs back a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008, in ... more

Philadelphia Eagles' wide receiver/punt-returner DeSean Jackson, foreground, eludes tackles by the St. Louis Rams' Chris Massey (airborne) and Joe Klopfenstein (88) while running the ball for 60 yards in the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008, in Philadelphia. Jackson, the first Eagles rookie wide receiver to start the season-opener in 18 years, had six catches for 106 yards in the Eagles' 38-3 win. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek) less

Philadelphia Eagles' wide receiver/punt-returner DeSean Jackson, foreground, eludes tackles by the St. Louis Rams' Chris Massey (airborne) and Joe Klopfenstein (88) while running the ball for 60 yards in the ... more

Photo: Tom Mihalek, AP

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PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 07: DeSean Jackson #10 of the Philadelphia Eagles returns a kick off in the third quarter for a long gain against the St. Louis Rams on September 7, 2008 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Rams 38-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) less

PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 07: DeSean Jackson #10 of the Philadelphia Eagles returns a kick off in the third quarter for a long gain against the St. Louis Rams on September 7, 2008 at Lincoln Financial Field in ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson catches a pass against the Cowboys in the second quarter of their game in Irving, Texas September 15, 2008. Jackson would have scored on the play but spiked the ball on the one yard line before crossing the goal line. less

Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson catches a pass against the Cowboys in the second quarter of their game in Irving, Texas September 15, 2008. Jackson would have scored on the play but spiked the ball on the ... more

Photo: Mike Stone, Reuters

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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 05: DeSean Jackson #10 of the Philadelphia Eagles makes a break leading to a touchdown against the Washington Redskins on October 5, 2008 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) less

PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 05: DeSean Jackson #10 of the Philadelphia Eagles makes a break leading to a touchdown against the Washington Redskins on October 5, 2008 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, ... more

Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images

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Philadelphia Eagles punt returner DeSean Jackson (10) returns a punt for a touchdown as Washington Redskins punter Durant Brooks (14) chases during the first quarter of NFL football game action in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 5, 2008. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer (UNITED STATES) less

Philadelphia Eagles punt returner DeSean Jackson (10) returns a punt for a touchdown as Washington Redskins punter Durant Brooks (14) chases during the first quarter of NFL football game action in Philadelphia, ... more

Photo: TIM SHAFFER, REUTERS

Jackson is tough for 49ers to bear

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Hindsight is everything when it comes to the hit-or-miss proposition that is the NFL draft, so it's easy to point out that in April, the 49ers passed twice on DeSean Jackson and instead went with two linemen who have had little impact as rookies.

Defensive end Kentwan Balmer has gotten a few snaps a game for the 49ers and guard Chilo Rachal has yet to get on the field for San Francisco, but the Eagles' rookie wide receiver/punt returner is looking like a steal as the 18th pick in Round 2, 49th overall.

The lightweight playmaker from Cal has been a heavyweight contributor in Philly. Jackson is No. 2 among NFL rookies in receptions with 23 and is the leading first-year player in receiving yards with 335. As a punt returner, Jackson's 13.2-yard average is sixth overall and second among rookies.

What say you, Mike Nolan, after taking a pass on Jackson not once but twice?

"We liked the two players we took," the 49ers' coach said. "We did like him (Jackson) as well, though. He's a very good player. We met with him. It was a good experience in speaking with him. He was the explosive player we thought he would be. At the time, we felt we had players who would help us more quickly."

It hasn't unfolded that way. Balmer is not close to being starting material and Rachal is viewed as a project.

Eagles coach Andy Reid admitted the draft is a crapshoot as well when speaking in a Wednesday conference call about his greyhound of a rookie.

"The whole draft is a 50-50 shot," he said. "I would like to tell you that I absolutely knew (that Jackson would thrive) but I was hoping this is what he would be, and he's probably done even more than that."

Assessing his rookie season after five games, Jackson said, "Whatever they needed me to do here, that's what I was going to do. So far, it's been a good role and I'm having a lot of fun with it."

In a conference call, Jackson downplayed whatever extra motivation he might derive from returning to the Bay Area to face the local team that passed on him in the draft.

"It's definitely real nice to come out there and play the 49ers," he said. "I don't feel I have to prove anything to the 49ers (for) passing up on me."

However, one of Jackson's closest friends said he's brimming with enthusiasm for Sunday's game at Candlestick Park. Gary Doxy grew up with Jackson in Long Beach and was a football teammate of his from Pop Warner through high school and at Cal, where he eventually was dismissed from the team for academic reasons.

"I've never heard him this juiced about a game," Doxy said. "He's so excited to come back out here and play in front of his local colleagues. He has a fire for this weekend. With (running back Brian) Westbrook down, he wants to step up in a big, big way."

Character issues, such as chronic tardiness to meetings, and the fact he reported to the scouting combine weighing a scant 169 pounds caused Jackson to plummet in the draft. At the time, teams placed more importance on his slight frame than the fact this he is one dynamic player with the ball in his hands.

"I had a chance to talk to his head coach (Jeff Tedford) and he was very up front with me on things that he did with DeSean," Reid said. "I have a lot of respect for him. He's a heck of a coach, coach Tedford. He just said there were a couple things he would do different. I took that into consideration ... and I didn't feel it was a problem.

"And you know what? He's been tremendous here, just fit right in. He brings a great energy to our team."

At Cal, Jackson scored 29 touchdowns in 36 games, encompassing 22 receiving touchdowns, six on punt returns and one rushing. Good things happen when this whippet of a player has the ball in his hands, more than enough to offset the small dent he makes on the scale.

Jackson has one touchdown catch as an NFL rookie when he should have two. There was the small matter of cavalierly letting go of the ball before he crossed the goal line in Philadelphia's Monday night game against Dallas. Thus, it was a 60-yard reception and fumble instead of a 61-yard touchdown.

That didn't play well with his teammates or in Philly, a city known to be tough on its professional athletes.

"Well, you can imagine," Reid said. "The veteran players got a hold of him before I could get a hold of him to let him know to make sure he crosses the goal line and not to let that happen again."

Another of Jackson's friends, current Cal wide receiver Nyan Boateng, put a positive spin on the embarrassing incident when he spoke to Jackson after that game.

"I told him to look on the bright side," Boateng said. "He was able to get behind an NFL defense, and there aren't many guys who can do that."

The 49ers are well aware of Jackson's game-breaking ability and concede there might be times Sunday when he's on the loose in the open field.

"You might not be able to help it," cornerback Nate Clements said. "You might be one-on-one with a player and you have to bring him down."

Shouldn't be too hard. He weighs only a buck seventy-five, on a good day.

Now Playing:

Action Jackson

Opponent

Result

Rec.-Yds-TD

Runs-Yds-TD

Ret.*-Yds-TD

St. Louis

W, 38-3

6-106-0

0-0-0

8-97-0

-- Returns punt 60 yards to highlight impressive debut.

At Dallas

L, 41-37

6-110-0

0-0-0

2-12-0

-- On "Monday Night Football," turns TD into 60-yard reception by flipping away ball to celebrate, at the 1-yard line.

Pittsburgh

W, 15-6

5-40-0

1-1-0

2-11-0

At Chicago

L, 24-20

5-71-1

2-35-0

4-37-0

-- Scores first TD with 22-yard catch.

Washington

L, 23-17

1-8-0

2-13-0

1-68-1

-- Returns punt 68 yards for TD.

*Punt returns

Fast start

DeSean Jackson after five games with the Eagles:

Stat

Total

Ranks^

Receptions

23

2, T19

Rec. yds

335

1, 12

Avg./rec.

14.6

1, 23*

Long rec.

60

1, T21

Punt ret. yds

225

1, 2

Punt ret. avg.

13.2

2, 6*

Punt ret. long

68

1, 3

^Rookie ranking, overall ranking

*Five or more receptions/returns.

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